The governor delivered his sixth budget address this week. But this one was a little different. First, because it's not just going to be analyzed by state legislators and New Jersey residents… but also by the national media, potential Republican donors, and political watchers from coast-to-coast. Governor Christie is for all intents and purposes running for higher office.

Second, the budget speech came a day after a judge ruled that the governor broke a law (that he signed) when he cut $1.57 billion dollars from this year’s pension payment. That means lawmakers have to find the money to pay into the pension system. And fast. FY 2015 ends June 30th.

Next year’s budget? It’s tough to look forward to 2016 when you suddenly have to scramble to squeeze nearly $1.6 billion out of the current budget year.

The Christie Tracker Podcast has full analysis of the budget speech and the governor’s legal woes. Host David Furst is in the State House in Trenton this week, along with Matt Katz, who covers Governor Christie for WNYC and New Jersey Public Radio and Tom Moran, the editorial page editor for The Star-Ledger. We’re also joined by WNYC reporter, Jessica Gould, who covers politics and public finance.

The Christie Tracker Podcast

Follow WNYC’s coverage of the New Jersey governor and Chairman of Donald Trump's transition team. Listen to our weekly podcast on the Bridgegate trial hosted by David Furst and featuring reporters Matt Katz and Andrea Bernstein..
Produced by WNYC.

WNYC 93.9 FM and AM 820 are New York's flagship public radio
stations, broadcasting the finest programs from NPR, PRI and American Public Media, as well as a wide range of award-winning local
programming. WNYC is a division of
New York Public Radio.